Overview

• Capability Demonstration 2025 finished in early June, four months ahead of plan, after RAAF-defined trials proved operational viability.
• Five mission areas were validated: autonomous mission execution, multi-ship teaming, deployment from RAAF Base Tindal, teaming with the E-7A Wedgetail, and secure data fusion to a crewed platform.
• The program has accumulated about 150 flight hours and more than 20,000 hours of virtual simulations to date.
• Validated capabilities are being integrated into Block 2 aircraft already in production, with first Block 2 flight testing expected by year-end.
• The program enters an engage-and-assess phase with an air-to-air weapon employment test planned for late 2025 or early 2026.